Chatwood, Collmenter Have Strong Starts For The Rockies

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood and Arizona’s Josh Collmenter know they have a lot to prove if they want to earn rotation spots.

They each made a good case Tuesday.

Chatwood and Collmenter each worked four solid innings, then Dexter Fowler led off the sixth inning with a tiebreaking homer to lead the Rockies to a 4-3 victory over a Diamondbacks split squad.

“He (Chatwood) had a nice outing. When he hit a rough spot he was able to pitch around it,” said Colorado manager Walt Weiss. “He made the pitches he had to in key spots. And that’s what you want to see. He battled and that’s what you got to like.”

Chatwood, who started 12 games for the Rockies last year, gave up four hits and a run runs over four innings, striking out two. But Weiss said it was too early to make a decision on the club’s No. 5 starter

No matter what the outcome, Chatwood said he is ready to pitch in any role.

“I’ve always been a starter, so, of course, I’d rather start. But I did pitch in relief last year and am more at ease now with that,” he said. “It’s about developing an attitude to do whatever you have to do. I’ll do whatever helps the club.”

Collmenter faced 15 batters in four innings. The right-hander went 5-3 in 11 starts as a rookie last season. On Tuesday, he allowed four hits, two runs and retired eight of his last nine batters.

He will likely be left out of Arizona’s rotation unless there is an injury, so he knows he is auditioning for a role as a spot starter or long reliever.

“I was pleased with the day, I had a chance to particularly work on my curveball,” he said. “I pitched some relief a year ago. So I am preparing myself for either – and just to be ready to go every day. You never know how the season is going play out.”

Adam Ottavio got the save for Colorado – he’s never had one in the regular season in in eight years of pro ball. Ottavio was 5-1 in 53 relief appaernces a year ago.

NOTES: Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill was a late pregame scratch with an upset stomach but took batting practice. … D-backs RHP Daniel Hudson made another step in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, throwing 20 pitches off flat ground on a practice field. … The victory went to 43-year-old, well-traveled pitcher Miguel Batista, who worked a hitless inning. Batista, signed as a minor free agent, is making a bid to pitch in his 15th major league season. He ranks 13th among active pitchers with 658 appearances. … The Rockies sent nine players to their minor league camp, leaving 57 on the spring roster. … The announced attendance of 11,608 was Arizona’s fifth sellout of the spring. Overall, the Diamondbacks are averaging around 8,400 a game, down from a year ago when they drew nearly 11,300 a game.